The Illinois Fighting Illini are heading to the Final Four after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes 71-59 in an Elite Eight matchup played Saturday night at the Toyota Center in Houston.
Iowa Survives Horn Delay in First Half
The Hawkeyes started strong, opening the game with a 12-2 run. However, the first half was briefly halted when the arena buzzer malfunctioned, stopping play for 11 minutes while officials attempted repairs. An air horn was then used for the remainder of the game.
Iowa regained momentum after the delay, with Bennett Stirtz scoring 15 points in the first half to help the Hawkeyes take a 32-28 lead into halftime.
Illinois Ends Iowa’s Run
Illinois rallied in the second half, taking their first lead after David Mirkovic completed an and-1 play. A 10-1 run, finished with an alley-oop from Zvonimir Ivisic, helped Illinois build an eight-point advantage.
Iowa struggled offensively in the second half, going 1-of-13 from the floor after briefly regaining the lead. Illinois closed out the game making seven of their last nine shots.
Keaton Wagler led Illinois with 25 points, while Andrej Stojakovic added 17. For Iowa, Bennett Stirtz finished with 24 points. This was Iowa’s first Elite Eight appearance since 1987.
Illinois has won all four of its NCAA tournament games by double digits. The Illini will now face either Duke or UConn in the Final Four next weekend in Indianapolis. This marks Illinois’ first Final Four appearance since 2005, when they lost to North Carolina in the national title game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the Illinois vs. Iowa game?
The final score was Illinois 71, Iowa 59.
When did Illinois last reach the Final Four?
Illinois last reached the Final Four in 2005.
Where will Illinois play in the Final Four?
Illinois will play in the Final Four in Indianapolis.
With Illinois securing their spot in the Final Four, what impact will this have on the momentum of the Big Ten conference in college basketball?
